Improving targeted treatment of cancer
MetaCurUm Biotech is developing a novel treatment that will benefit
patients with aggressive cancer.
- Solid scientific background
- Unique TGFβ mode of action
- Targeted treatment
- Large commercial potential
- Granted patent
- Possibilities for precision medicine
- Highly dedicated and experienced team
News
MetaCurUm aims to raise SEK 100 Million – following founder’s prestigious Award
MetaCurUm founder receives SEK 10 Million grant for academic research
MetaCurUm Biotech AB patents unique discovery from scientific study
Research and development
Towards improved treatment of cancer
MetaCurUm Biotech is developing a new antibody treatment to prevent the formation of metastases by targeting an oncogenic transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway. The company aims to meet a large unmet medical need and provide cancer patients worldwide with a new therapeutic option.
The drug development program is focused on prostate cancer, and the aim is to extend the pipeline to include additional aggressive cancer forms with large unmet medical needs such as breast, lung, kidney and endometrial cancer.
Companion biomarkers to be used for patient selection and to monitor treatment effects are being developed in parallel with the lead drug candidate.
- Drug candidate: Monoclonal antibody
- Target: Oncogenic TGFβ signaling pathway
- Lead indication: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
- Development stage: Preclinical
- Biomarkers under development
Novel drug target
TGFβ plays fundamental roles in cell growth and differentiation. TGFβ is also associated with a number of pathological processes such as cancer and fibrosis. In cancer cells, aberrant TGFβ signaling is associated with tumor progression and the formation of metastases (the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body).
TGFβ is an intensively investigated cancer drug target thoroughly studied and utilized by several ongoing drug development programs as well as being a solid base for a number of recent business collaborations.
MetaCurUm Biotech’s antibody drug candidate targets an oncogenic TGFβ signaling pathway utilized by cancer cells to become invasive and metastasize. Due to the unique mode of action, anticipated advantages compared to currently available drugs are lower side-effects, improved quality of life and overall survival.
Unmet medical need and commercial potential
More than 1.3 million men are affected by prostate cancer every year around the world. Although many of the patients can be treated and cured, prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in men.
Metastases is responsible for about 90% of all cancer deaths and there is a great need for drugs that prevents the spread of cancer cells in patients with, or at risk of developing, metastatic disease.
With its novel treatment strategy, MetaCurUm Biotech aims to address this unmet medical need.
MetaCurUm Biotech’s potential goes beyond cancer, and other relevant indications related to TGFβ will also be explored.
About MetaCurUm Biotech
MetaCurUm Biotech is a spin-off company from the department of Medical Biosciences at Umeå University, Sweden, based on the unique discoveries made by Professor Maréne Landström and her collaborators. The company was founded in 2018 and is currently a resident at the Umeå Biotech Incubator.
MetaCurUm Team
CEO
Maarten de Château, M.D. Ph.D
Project Manager
Peter Frank, MSc Enigneering
CSO
Maréne Landström, M.D. Ph.D
Karin von Wachenfeldt, Ph.D
Expert in Pharmaceutical development and translational activities of large and small molecules. She obtained her Ph. D from Dept. of Immunotechnology at Lund University. Karin has over 20 years of experience from the pharmaceutical industry (BioInvent, Ixsys Inc. PharmaciaUpjohn, Active Biotech and AstraZeneca) and currently works as CEO of Truly Translational.
- Drug development
- Business development
- Chemistry, manufacturing and controls
- Intellectual property rights
- Regulatory affairs
MetaCurUm Board
Chairman
Urban Paulsson
Maréne Landström, M.D. Ph.D
Maarten de Château, M.D. Ph.D
Torbjörn Bäckström, M.D. Ph.D
Michael Sundström, Ph.D
Scientific advisory board
References
TGFβ signaling and its relevance in drug development:
Research relevant to MetaCurUm Biotech’s product development:
TRAF6 ubiquitinates TGFβ type I receptor to promote its cleavage and nuclear translocation in cancer
Contact information
MetaCurUm Biotech AB
Tvistevägen 48c
907 36 Umeå
Sweden
Registration number: 559163-6393